The essence of taste: How to give a flavor boost to sweet and savory dishes

(ARA) - The tastes and scents of holiday food are a source of cherished memories over generations. A whiff of grandma's vanilla-infused cookies is enough to put a smile on any face. The holiday table will always have room for time-honored traditions, as well as new interpretations of classic recipes. Chefs at restaurants and home cooks alike often have a secret weapon in their kitchen to give dishes that extra "something." Many times this weapon comes in the form of pure flavor extracts.

Adding pure flavor extracts to dishes can offer convenience and flavor without compromising your dishes. When pure coffee extract is added to cocoa it makes a delicious mocha drink, and you can even punch up the flavor of tea by adding a touch of pure lemon extract. Manufacturers like Nielsen-Massey offer top quality pure flavor extracts that are ideal for both sweet and savory fare.

The most exciting part of working with pure flavor extracts, for many cooks, is finding out how to make new and creative flavor pairings that are unexpected, and delicious. Vanilla and sweetness will always go hand in hand, but the flavor and scent profile of different types of vanillas can vary widely. Madagascar Bourbon pure vanilla extract has a creamy, sweet, velvety flavor that is perfect for a range of products from baked goods to ice creams, salad dressings to barbeque sauces, while Mexican pure vanilla extract is known by its creamy, spicy flavor that has a special affinity for dishes that contain chocolate, cinnamon and other warm spices, and Tahitian pure vanilla extract is especially symbiotic with fruit-based products such as fruited yogurt and sorbet.

It's the variety and complexity that make vanilla perfect to experiment with in new and treasured recipes, from savory breads and meat rubs to soups. Home cooks can also intensify tastes with other pure flavor extracts such as pure chocolate extract that can add a rich character, without sweetness, or pure peppermint extract that can bring the standard pairing of lamb chops and mint jelly up to date.

The change of season is the perfect time to get in the kitchen and prepare delicious cool weather treats. The savory flavors of fall and winter are ideal to accent with extracts like orange, lemon or coffee. Try these recipes for entertaining and you'll introduce your guests to the sweet and savory sides of your cooking repertoire.

Rich Corn Bread
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup unbleached flour, sifted
1 teaspoon each salt and sugar
3 tablespoons baking powder
2 teaspoons Madagascar Bourbon pure vanilla extract
3 eggs
1 cup milk
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup melted butter

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 12 x 16 inch pan or large cast iron skillet. Combine cornmeal, flour, salt, sugar, baking powder and vanilla. Add eggs lightly beaten with milk and beat until the batter is thoroughly blended. Stir in heavy cream and butter. Spread the batter into baking pan and bake for 20 minutes, or until well browned.

Golden Squash Bisque
Ingredients:
2 acorn squash, peeled and quartered (about 2 cups)
3 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup finely diced onion
1 tablespoon flour
1 1/2 cups (or more) organic chicken stock
1 bay leaf
2 whole fresh sage leaves
1 cup heavy whipping cream, warmed
1/2 teaspoon pure orange extract

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Place the squash in a covered baking dish with the water. Bake for 30 minutes or until fork tender. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the onion and saute until golden brown. Whisk in the flour until blended. Add 1 1/2 cups chicken stock gradually, whisking constantly. Add the squash, salt and white pepper. Mash with a potato masher. Add the bay leaf and sage leaves. Simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Remove the bay leaf and sage leaves. Spoon the squash mixture into a blender. Add the warm cream a little at a time, pureeing after each addition. Add the orange extract. Pour into the saucepan and reheat thoroughly. If the bisque is too thick, you may change the consistency by adding additional stock 1/4 cup at a time.
Serves 4 to 6.

Mexican Hot Cocoa
Ingredients:
1 cup powdered nondairy coffee creamer
1 cup fine granulated sugar (or powdered sugar)
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 tablespoon Madagascar Bourbon pure vanilla powder
1 teaspoons cinnamon

Directions:
Combine all ingredients. Store in an airtight container. To serve: Add 2/3 cup boiling water to 1/3 cup Mexican Hot Cocoa Mix in a sturdy mug. Stir. Top with marshmallows, if desired.

Any-Flavor Cookies
Any flavor extract can be used in this recipe, or they can be made entirely with vanilla extract. Chopped nuts can be added to the dough, or whole nuts or decorative sugar can be placed on top.

Igredients:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1/2 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon pure vanilla
1 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey pure extract (any flavor)
1 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:
In a bowl, beat butter until soft, add sugar and mix well. Add the egg, pure vanilla and pure extracts and mix thoroughly. Add in the flour and salt and mix well. Shape dough into a log, wrap in waxed paper and chill until cold.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Thinly slice the dough with a sharp knife and place on a greased baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly browned.
Makes 42 cookies.


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Norwegian Crab Bisque - Great Clam Chowder substitute!

I'm not sure which one of my food-loving fellow contributors left the review of Campbell's Chunky Healthy Request Clam Chowder, but I'm glad you did. I saw it on the shelf and had contemplated trying it. I'll stick to what I know is good thank you very much!

Here's a recipe you might want to try when you're craving clam chowder or fish for that matter. This is a great soup, healthy and fairly low cal. I'm sure you'll be able to make a few modifications to cut back on the calories even further! I substitute clams from the can for the crab for a great tasting clam chowder.

Norwegian Crab Bisque

2 cups water

1 small onion, diced

2 stalks celery, chopped

2 medium potatoes, diced

2 carrots, sliced*

1 cup frozen peas**

6 - 8 whole allspice

1 tsp. dried dill weed

1/2 tsp. white pepper

2 cans (13 ox. each) evaporated skim milk

1 lb. imitation crab***

1 Tbsp. parsley

Dash of tabasco or other hot pepper sauce

Place water, onions, celery, potatoes, carrots, peas, allspice, dill and white pepper in 4-quart saucepan. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove and discard allspice.

Add mile and simmer (do NOT boil). Gently stir in imitation crab. garnish with parsely and tabasco.

Makes 6 servigns. 229 calories, 0.3 gram fat, 629 mg. sodium, 38 mg cholesterol per serving.

*I use the shredded kind in bags as I don't care for large pieces of carrots
** I usually leave these out as a few in my family don't like peas. I like having veggies in it though so I might put some brocoli on occasion. I tried spinach and loved it, but I was the lonely owner of a whole pot of bique as no one else would try it.
***I prefer not to use the imitation crab as it has a distinctive flavor and it has sugar in it. I have substituted clams, shrimp, and/or boneless fish. You need to simmer long enough to make sure the seafood is cooked if you use fresh, something you don't need to worry about with imitation crab. I usually just use frozen cooked shrimp or canned clams so I don't have to worry. However, the flavor is SO much better with fresh. Sometimes I'll precook the fish in the microwave to save a minute or two. I have also made this with scallops, real crab, shrimp and clams all together, for a great seafood gumbo.

The recipe is from "Light-Hearted Seafood - Tasty, Quick, Healthy" by Janis Harsila, R.D. and Evie Hansen. It's from way back in 1989 and was published by the National Seafood Educators, P.O. Box 60006, Richmond Beach, WA 98160 (206-546-6430 is the phone number listed, but who knows if it's still good). I'd suggest doing an Internet search if you're intersted in trying to find a copy.

It's a great little book if you love seafood like I do!

Judy